Qalandiya, Tue 27.11.12, Morning

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Observers: 
Ina F., Nava Jenny E. (reporting)
Nov-27-2012
|
Morning

 

 

Translation: Judith Green

 

....I am 56, I stood in the Humanitarian line for half an hour, they didn't let me through, they said, "Today only from age 60!"  so, what is the difference between 56 an 60?  I simply go out in the morning, early, from my house?  How can I explain this to my children?  to my grandchildren?  How will they grow up?"

 

Qalandiya, 6:10

The vehicle checkpoint is full, as usual, of cars arriving from every direction.

 

The shed is dark, as usual, it seems that the crane has not yet arrived which was ordered in August, to change the bulbs in the lighting fixture which is on the ceiling of the shed.

The line is long, as usual, about 250 workers standing in 3 lines..

The humanitarian line is reasonable, as usual.  About 30 men and adult women waiting.

There is no crowding in passage for inpection - all 5 booths are operating.

This morning the men waiting in the usual line calll me constantly to come over, to talk politics.  Maybe because today they are supposed to take Arafat's body from his grave?

"No", they say, "whatever they find out, it doesn't matter".

Maybe because of the vote at the UN council, on Thursday, 26th of November, about Palestine becoming an observer at the UN?

"What about Thursday?" they say, "what will happen on Thursday?"

It seems that it is because of our upcoming elections.  On this subject, everyone is up to date:

"Did you hear that Barak quit?"  ..."what will happen?"..."Willl Bibi take the elections?"

 

Qalandiya - 6:40

In the last half hour, 350 men entered for inspection, 120 through the humanitarian gate.  The lines got much shorter.  Now, 120 men are waiting in the regular line and another 30, who just arrived, in the humantarian line.  No pressure at the inspection booth.

No arguments between the humanitarian line, where people wait no more than 10 minutes, and the regular line, where they wait sometimes for an hour.  And, when they pass through, all at once, 50 men through the humanitarian line, they take up 3 out of the 5 places at the inspection booth - at the expense of the regular line of workers who are stuck.

 

Qalandiya, 7:10

In half an hour, 330 men went through inspection, 140 through the humanitarian line.  In the regular line, there are still about 100 men waiting, while the humanitarian line is completely empty.  About 60 men waiting at the inspection area.

At the exit from the parking lot we are caught in a traffic jam and decide to get to Jerusalem the long way, through the  Hismeh checkpoint in the north of the city.